During last year's campaign, President Bush expressed his opposition to the general use of RU-486. However, while he objected to the FDA's approval of the drug, he stated that he had no plans to "unilaterally overturn it."

Even if he wanted to, he could not. Only Congress has the authority to overturn an FDA ruling, but has never done so.

Senator Hutchinson, when interviewed by CNN on Feb. 5, 2001, stated that the RU-486 Patient Health and Safety Protection Act is not an attempt to overturn the FDA's approval of RU-486. Instead, he stated he sees the law as modifying existing FDA regulations to add needed "reasonable protections for women's health." 

Opposition to the bill came from the House, where Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) stated, "I strongly oppose any efforts that would undermine the availability of mifepristone, also known as RU-486, to women who are seeking a safe method to terminate a pregnancy." 

Addressing the bill from a woman's rights standpoint, Rep. Capuano continued, "Attempts to restrict a woman's access to this drug are not done to protect her safety, but rather to influence her choice. By allowing mifepristone to be prescribed by her own doctor, a woman can preserve her anonymity and be comfortable with her choice."

Congressional Democrats have expressed fears that the Bush Administration harbors plans to roll back abortion rights laws, with a long-term goal of overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling generally considered to have made abortion legal in the United States.

On his second day in office, President Bush issued an executive order effectively freezing U.S. federal funds from being sent to any international family planning organizations that, "perform or actively promote abortion." The action was immediately criticized by key Democrats in Congress.

Speaking before the House on Feb. 6, 2001, Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colorado) stated "on his second day in office--also the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade--President Bush acted to re-impose the 'global gag rule,' a policy begun in the Reagan years to restrict international family planning assistance. I am seriously concerned about what this step will mean for the more than 150 million women worldwide who currently want access to family planning resources. I am concerned as well that President Bush's action might be only the first step in a longer-term effort to chip away at women's reproductive rights."

The RU-486 Patient Health and Safety Protection Act has again been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Approval of the committee is required before the bill can be considered by the full Senate. The membership of the committee is evenly divided between 10 Republican and 10 Democratic members, and is chaired by Republican Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont. Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts is the ranking Democratic member. The committee has not yet scheduled hearings on the bill.